At one and a half miles long miles long, three quarters of a mile wide and seven hundred feet deep Buttermere nestles in a majestic setting under the mountains of Haystacks and Fleetwith Pike. Buttermere Lake is one of the gems of the English Lake District.
It's not as easy to reach as some of the better known lakes like Windermere and Rydal Water (near Grasmere), but the effort expended to reach Buttermere is well spent.
The easiest drive is along the Lorton valley from Cockermouth, the birth place of William Wordsworth. Approaching from Keswick the choice is over the Newlands Pass, the Whinlatter pass, or a drive down the beautiful Borrowdale valley followed by the Honister Pass. All the passes are spectacular and are easily crossed with a normal car, but should be approached with caution in winter and avoided if there may be ice on the road.
Buttermere Village Facilities and Accommodation
A small hamlet Buttermere village provides the visitor with a choice of accommodation,. The Fish Hotel and the Bridge Hotel form the centre point of the hamlet. A short walk outside Buttermere Village the YHA can be found.
Two camp sites are available. One in the centre of the village near the Fish and Bridge hotels and the second approximately three quarters of a mile along the road towards Honister pass at Dalegarth, which also offers bed and breakfast.
Within the village there is a small cafe and on the outskirts of the village can be found Syke farm serving home made cakes and ice creams.
There is a car park for those wishing to leave their vehicles and explore the area. Public conveniences are also available including accessible facilities
Buttermere Village Church
The small church of St James is on the hillside just outside the main part of the village. A church has been present in this location since the fifteen hundreds, the current small and simple place of worship dates from 1848. The entrance to the church is shielded by a beautiful wrought iron gate depicting a shepherd, ewe and lamb on the hillside. A plain glass window frames the mountain of Haystacks, the last resting place of A Wainwright, author of the definitive guide books to the Lakeland Fells, and it is here that there is a memorial stone to him. It reads "Pause and remember Alfred Wainwright. fellwalker, guidebook author and illustrator who loved this valley. Lift your eyes to Haystacks his favourite place. 1907 - 1991."
Nearby Sightseeing Attractions
At the top of the Honister Pass is the Honister slate mine which offers underground mine tours and a Via Ferrarta on the slopes of Fleetwith Pike
Returning to Keswick via the Whinlatter Pass the visitor will find the Winlatter Forest Park which includes a Go Ape course, a childrens adventure playground, world class mountain biking, a permanent orienteering course and visitors centre and cafe with a CCTV link, in season, to the nearby ospreys nest.
Further Information for the Visitor to Buttermere
Walks around the fells surrounding Buttermere and the rest of the Lake District are well presented in the Fell and Rock Club of the English Lake District's book the "The Lakeland fells" Ernest Press 1996. Some of the walks are available on line on the Fell and Rock Club's website
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